Payton Tolle held court at the Red Sox Fenway Fest this weekend, and it's easy to see why he's quickly becoming a fan favorite in Boston.
Tolle, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the club's No. 2 prospect and No. 28 overall, had a story about everything -- including the time he ate eight bananas before a start.
The 23-year-old left-hander was asked by reporters at Fenway Park what his go-to meal is on days he pitches, and his answer would make a monkey proud.
"I have a lot of bananas," Tolle said. "Monkey never cramp" -- a nod to Munenori Kawasaki's iconic interview where the Blue Jays infielder explained why he ate bananas to avoid cramping.
Kawasaki had eaten three bananas on the day of his interview with SportsNet back in 2014. But that's nothing compared to Tolle.
"Especially on start days, I have a tough time eating. And bananas were the only thing that I could eat," Tolle said. "So one day, I had eight bananas before I pitched. And I was like, 'Well -- we got our potassium. So … Check.'"
That was hardly the only food-related question Tolle fielded on Saturday. Tolle also sang the praises of Sam's Club hot dogs and pizza, while discussing how he's being recognized by Red Sox fans around Boston more often these days (especially, he said, because of his trademark mustache).
Tolle was recently recognized by a couple of fans in Sam's Club while he was "just trying to get my mass-produced waffles." But groceries aren't the only thing he frequents Sam's Club for.
"They have a dollar-fifty hot dog combo there," Tolle said. So. "We went and had family dinner there a few times this month. Get two slices of pizza, four-meat pizza. And they've got a nice Brisk raspberry tea there, it's pretty good. So maybe the Sam's is like … 'Hey, brand deal, I'll take it.'"
There was some baseball talk in Tolle's interview too, of course. But not without a side of onomatopoeia.
Tolle described the rising movement he wants to get on his fastball as -- we'll do our best here -- "Pshew!" (along with a hand gesture of a fastball zooming through the air).
"It's awesome that now they're gonna have to figure that out, how to write that in a paper, of me [going] 'Pshew!'" Tolle joked. "I'm gonna come in one day and just speak in onomatopoeias, and you guys are gonna have a great time with that."